Transparent packaging with imprint applied after closing

Abstract

A package for small electronic articles and the like comprises forward and rear sections formed of transparent sheet plastic. The edges of the sections are joined and sealed to secure the article in the package. An imprinted display card is secured to the rear wall of the rear section by tabs arrayed about the rear wall so that the printing on the forward side of the card, which is not blocked by the article, is visible through the front of the package.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/576,900 filed Jun. 3, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to transparent packaging for small devices such as electronic components formed of a pair of sections which may be separate or joined by an integral hinge. The two sections may be constructed of a transparent sheet plastic shaped by vacuum forming or a like process, or may be partially opaque with matching transparent windows. At least one of the sections has a recess for retaining the product and the product may be inserted into that section while the sections are in an open position. The other section is then joined to the first section to seal the package and may be secured by adhesives, heat sealing, a hinge and snap fit arrangement, or other suitable means. In the prior art an imprinted display card is secured within the package before closure so as to be visible through the front of the closed package.

This type of packaging which is formed with a hinge is known as a clamshell because of the provision of two sections hinged relative to one another.

Often a distributor may order large quantities of products packaged in such containers for sale through a number of retailers, each of which requires a separate imprinted display card. In the past it has been necessary to package these different inserts at the point of insertion of the product and closing the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be desirable to purchase these closed packages with the inserted product, without the display cards, and insert the imprinted cards at an intermediate distribution point. This would allow the use of imprints conforming to the area of distribution in terms of retailer's identification, languages, warranties, etc. The present invention is directed toward a packaging construction which enables this type of operation. In essence, the package of the present invention is formed in a two-step operation. In the first step the product is inserted into the packaging and the unit is closed and sealed. It is then shipped to an intermediate distribution point, where a display card, printed on both sides with the necessary promotional information, is attached to the exterior of the rear wall of the package so that one side of the card is visible through the front of the package and the other side is visible on the rear. This imprinted product insert is secured to the outer side of the rear wall of the clamshell packaging, preferably by means of inserting the card under undercut tabs which extend inwardly from the opposed rear walls of the outer side of the rear of the packaging so as to engage the opposed edges of the imprinted card. A clear adhesive may be coated on the outer side of the container or the abutting side of the card before the two are joined to securely retain the card in place on the outer wall of the rear side of the clamshell packaging. In this way it is unnecessary to open the sealed packaging at the distribution point where the imprinted cards are joined to the packaging. The packages may be filled and sealed at an initial manufacturing point, without imprinted cards, and then appropriate imprinted cards may be later joined to the units without opening the packaging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clamshell package in open form;

FIG. 2 is a rear view, from the outer side, of the back of a clamshell packaging section formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through one of the tabs for retaining the imprinted product identification card on the rear of the outer side of the clamshell packaging, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the rear of one of the imprinted product identification cards suitable for use with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a view of the front of a closed package formed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the present invention is applicable to packaging in which the front and back are formed separately, or alternatively to integrally hinged containers (clamshell packages), a preferred embodiment employs a clamshell container. Referring to FIG. 1, a clamshell pack formed in accordance with the present invention generally consists of a front section 10 and a rear section 12 joined by an integral plastic hinge 14. The two sections 10 and 12, and the integral hinge 14, are formed of clear sheet plastic such as polycarbonate shaped by vacuum forming. The front section 10 has a peripheral edge 16 which is capable of mating with a peripheral edge 18 formed on the inner side of the rear member 12 to close the package. The two may be joined together by adhesives, sonic welding, or some combination thereof. The forward section 10 includes a recess 20 for retaining a product to be secured in the package. After the product is disposed in the recess 20, the rear section 12 is folded against the front section and the package is sealed.

The outer side of the back member 12 is preferably formed with spaced recessed clips 22 along its inner edges. In the preferred embodiment illustrated there are six of these clips, two on each elongated side of the back and one at each of the ends. The detailed configuration of a clip member is illustrated in FIG. 3. The rear surface of the back member 12 is indicated at 24, with an extreme edge at 26. Each clip 22 extends outwardly from the backing member to form a section 28 which includes a recessed portion 30 that is adapted to receive an edge of an imprinted backing card 32. The rear side of the card 34 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The card 32 is preferably rectangular and has a height and width which allow it to fit flat against the outer side 24 of the back 12, with its edges retained within all of the recesses 30 of the tabs 22. The backing card 32 is preferably imprinted on both sides. The card 32 is inserted into abutment with the rear side of the back 24. The portions of the forward side of card 32, which are not blocked by the packaged article, are then visible from the forward side of the completed package, while the entire rear side of the imprinted card is visible from the rear side.

A clear adhesive may be coated on either of the surfaces of the imprinted card or the backing member 24 which contact one another to retain the card in position under the clips 22.

In this manner an article to be packaged in the clamshell packaging may be inserted in one facility, the clamshell package may be closed and sealed, and shipped to another distribution facility, where imprinted cards of suitable configuration may be secured to the back of various clamshells for distributional purposes.

The same system may be employed with packages formed of two, unjoined sections. In alternative embodiments of the invention, sections of the packaging may be imprinted so as to be opaque, leaving only a transparent window in the front section through which a portion of the imprint on the side of the card 32 abutting the rear section 24 may be seen from the front.

Claims

1. A method of packaging and distributing articles in transparent sheet plastic containers having forward and rear sections which may be joined to secure the articles therein comprising:

securing said articles in such containers and sealing the pairs of sections at a first facility; and

transmitting the closed and sealed containers to a plurality of second facilities where imprinted cards are secured to the outer side of the rear section of each closed container, the imprinted cards being printed on both sides so that those portions of the forward side not blocked by the article are visible through the forward side of the container and the rear side is visible from the rear side of the container.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the imprinted cards are secured to the rear of the containers by means of clips which project inwardly from spaced points along the edges of the periphery of the rear section of the container.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the forward and rear sections are joined at edges by an integrally formed hinge section.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the imprinted cards secured to certain of the closed containers are imprinted differently from cards secured to other of the containers.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the container sections are formed by vacuum forming.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the container sections are composed of polycarbonate.

7. The method of claim 1 in which at least a portion of one of the container sections is imprinted, leaving a clear window through which the imprinting on the secured card is visible.

8. A package for an article, comprising:

a container comprising a forward section formed of transparent sheet plastic having a cavity formed on its rear side for reception of said article and a rear section formed of transparent sheet plastic adapted to have its forward side secured to the rear side of said forward section to secure said article in the container, said rear having a flat, central section on its rear wall; and

a flat card imprinted on both sides, retained against the flat, central section of the rear wall of said rear section so that those portions of the forward side of the card not blocked by the article are visible through the forward side of the container and the rear side of the card is visible from the rear side of the container.

9. The package of claim 8 wherein the rear side of the rear section of the container is formed with clips on its periphery which project inwardly from spaced points to secure the imprinted card against the rear side.

10. The package of claim 8 wherein the imprinted card is adhered to the central, flat section of the rear side of the rear section of the container.

11. The package of claim 9 wherein both the rear and forward sections of the package are rectangular, the imprinted card is rectangular, and the height and width of the imprinted card is such that it fits within the area defined by the clips.

12. The package of claim 8 wherein the forward and rear sections of the container are joined to one another by an integral hinge formed at complementary edges of the sections.

13. The package of claim 12 wherein the forward and rear sections of the package and the integral hinge are formed by a vacuum forming process.

14. A package for an article comprising:

a container formed of a rectangular forward section of a transparent polycarbonate plastic, formed with a cavity on its rear side for reception of said article, and a rectangular rear section of a transparent polycarbonate plastic having a central, flat section on its back side surrounded by a series of inwardly projecting clips, the forward and rear sections being joined at complementary edges by an integrally formed hinge section so that the forward and rear sections may be positioned in an open arrangement to allow insertion or removal of said article in the cavity on the rear side of the forward section, or a closed arrangement to secure said article in the container; and

a flat card, imprinted on at least its forward side, having dimensions complementary to the area defined by said clips, retained with its forward side against the central, flat section on the rear of the rear section of the container with the edges of the card retained by the clips so that the printing on the forward side of the card which is not blocked by the article is visible on the forward side of the container, through the rear and forward sections of the container.

15. The package of claim 14 in which the clips are arranged about all four sides of a rectangular area and the imprinted card is rectangular with dimensions complementary to the area defined by the clips.